Sharpsteen Museum, Calistoga

About Sharpsteen Museum

Sharpsteen Museum features intricately crafted permanent dioramas that offer a bird's-eye view of Calistoga's past, including Sam Brannan's 1860s Hot Springs Resort, a model train winding through early 1900s Chinatown, and the historic electric railroad that once connected Calistoga to the San Francisco Bay Area. Visitors explore period rooms displaying the restored Sam Brannan Cottage, the Fossville Barn and Blacksmith Shop, and an authentic Calistoga stagecoach. The museum exhibits artifacts from the Wappo People, the region's indigenous inhabitants, revealing their early use of geothermal hot springs for healing. A permanent display includes a cooking pot brought by the Donner Party, featured on the Travel Channel's "Mysteries at the Museum." Current and upcoming exhibits rotate seasonally, including "Calistoga's Places of Worship" and "When You Wish Upon A Star: A Disney Music Treasury." The museum opens its doors to families with kid-friendly exhibits designed for small explorers. General admission is free. The museum stands in Calistoga, California.